Despite Human Protests, Neutering A Male Dog Can Have Its Benefits

July 21, 1985|By Dr. Ann L. Huntington.

QMy boyfriend and I are almost on the verge of splitting up because of my dog. I have a year-old Boxer named Butch; he`s very gentle and in excellent health. Recently, a friend of mine had her German Shepherd neutered because her vet said he would be better off in the long run and that neutering wouldn`t change him at all. When I told my boyfriend I was thinking of having Butch neutered, he actually said that if I had Butch castrated, he`d never see me again. He said my friend must hate males and that`s why she suggested this to me. What should I do?

AYour simplest solution would be to let Butch keep the equipment he was born with; in that way, you`ll keep your boyfriend. However, I too recommend neutering male dogs unless the owner wants to breed them. It has nothing to do with being anti-male; the fact is that neutering is better for the dog in the long run. When a male dog ages, he is prone to prostate infections. Castration prevents this. Moreover, he is subject to perianal tumors, which are triggered by the testicular hormone, testosterone. When a dog is neutered, there is no more testosterone, and thus no perianal tumors. Neutering also eliminates the danger of testicular tumors and some types of hernias. Those are the major pluses for a neutered male dog. What about the negatives? There aren`t any

--except, of course, for the bucks you`ll have to invest in Butch`s operation.

I hope you can get your boyfriend to change his mind about Butch.

QI read your column about feline leukemia and how it can be prevented, and it prompted me to call a local veterinarian (he`s new, our former one retired). I brought in my 2-year-old female cat, Desdemona, and he gave her her first shot and said to bring her back in three weeks for the second of her three vaccinations. I seem to recall that you said a cat should first be tested to see if it had feline leukemia, because if it did, there was no point to the vaccination. How come the vet did not do this first? Will the shot make things worse?

AWhat your vet did was give Desdemona a ``shot in the dark``--that is, the vaccine without the prior test. The shot won`t make things worse, even if Desdemona has already contracted the disease. However, it won`t help her in the least either. By not suggesting a blood test first, the vet is saving most of his clients the test cost. Unfortunately, this also means that some who pays for the protection of the first vaccine will gain no benefit if their cats were incubating the disease. Furthermore, if such is the case, the additional two shots are acts of futility and an unnecessary outlay of money. QI have four dogs, all mixed breeds, ranging in age from 4 to 10. They`re big fellas, healthy and well cared for. I feed them the standard dog foods. I saw an ad recently for a special kind of dog food that stated that most pet foods contain dyes, preservatives and fillers, but that this one is natural, pure and even helps prevent fleas. I went to a health food store and priced both the dry and canned varieties, and they`re unbelievably expensive. Since I have four big mouths to feed, I don`t feel I can take on such an expense. On the other hand, if it would be better for them, I guess I might consider it, although my husband will have a fit. What`s your opinion?

AYou`ve practically solved your dilemna on your own. You state that your dogs are big, healthy fellas. Ergo, they don`t need anything more than the standard, commercial foods they`ve apparently been thriving on--assuming, too, that their coats are in good condition. Some pets do benefit from special diets, but that is for special reasons that don`t seem to apply to your four hardy, healthy dogs. So, save your money and spare yourselves the budget aggravation.

QMy new husband is a physical fitness fiend; he jogs 10 miles a day. My 6-year-old Boxer, Goliath, has been accustomed to being taken out on a leash and walked around the block three or four times daily. My husband thinks the dog doesn`t get nearly enough exercise and wants to take him jogging with him. I think that will be too much for Goliath. We`ll wait for your answer.

AAssuming that Goliath is in good health, more exercise can only be good for him. But, just as with people, he should begin his new cardiovascular activity gradually. In other words, he shouldn`t be taken on a lengthy jog at the outset. Also, his feet probably need to be toughened up so a hard pavement doesn`t injure them. And he should never be taken jogging when the weather is hot; dogs have difficulty adjusting to heat because they do not sweat.

Dr. Huntington welcomes questions from readers. Although she cannot reply to all of them individually, she will answer those of general interest in this column. Write to Dr. Huntington in care of The Chicago Tribune, Room 400, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611. If your pet`s problem is urgent, or an emergency, consult your vet.